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Arakaza A, Liu X, Zhu J, Zou L. Assessment of serum levels and placental bed tissue expression of IGF-1, bFGF, and PLGF in patients with placenta previa complicated with placenta accreta spectrum disorders. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2024; 37:2305264. [PMID: 38247274 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2024.2305264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to detect the serum levels of IGF-1, bFGF, and PLGF and their expressions in placental bed tissues of patients with placenta previa complicated with PAS disorders. METHODS This case and control study included 40 multiparous pregnant women with complete placenta previa between 34 weeks and 38 weeks of gestation and they were divided into two groups: 25 patients with PAS (case group) and 15 patients without PAS (control group). The venous blood samples were collected 2 h before the cesarean section, and the placental bed tissues were taken intraoperatively at the placental implantation site and then were histologically examined to evaluate the gravity of the myometrial invasion of the placenta. According to FIGO PAS increasing grading, the 25 patients were also divided into three groups: PAS grade I group, PAS grade II group, and PAS grade III group. The concentrations of IGF-1, bFGF, and PLGF in serum were measured using ELISA, and the mean ratio of the relative mRNA expression of each biomarker in placental bed tissues was calculated using qRT-PCR. The staining intensity and the positive cells were quantitatively measured and expressed as means by using Image J software for IHC analysis. RESULTS IGF-1 had low serum levels and high placental bed expression in placenta previa patients with PAS disorders compared to those without PAS (all p < 0.0001). PLGF had high serum levels (p = 0.0200) and high placental bed expression (p < 0.0001) in placenta previa patients with PAS disorders compared to those without PAS. IGF-1 serum levels decreased up to PAS grade II (means were 24.3 ± 4.03, 21.98 ± 3.29, and 22.03 ± 7.31, respectively for PAS grade I, PAS grade II, PAS grade III groups, p = 0.0006). PLGF serum levels increased up to PAS grade II (means were 12.96 ± 2.74, 14.97 ± 2.56, and 14.89 ± 2.14, respectively for the three groups, p = 0.0392). However, IGF-1 and PLGF mRNA placental bed expression increased up to PAS grade III. The relative expression of mRNA means for the three groups was 3.194 ± 1.40, 3.509 ± 0.63, and 3.872 ± 0.70, respectively for IGF-1; and 2.784 ± 1.14, 2.810 ± 0.71, and 2.869 ± 0.48, respectively for PLGF (all p < 0.0001). Their IHC (immunohistochemical) staining also had increasing trends, but p > 0.05. bFGF was not significantly expressed in placenta previa with PAS disorders in most of the analysis sections (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Low serum levels and high expression in placental bed tissues of IGF-1, or high serum levels and high expression in placental bed tissues of PLGF, may differentiate placenta previa patients with FIGO PAS grade I and PAS grade II from those without PAS disorders. However, they could not significantly predict the degree of placental invasiveness in FIGO PAS grades II and III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arcade Arakaza
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxia Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianwen Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Zou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Chen H, Li R, Bian J, Li X, Su C, Wang Y, Zhang H, Zheng J, Wang Y, Zhang H. OLFML3 suppresses trophoblast apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT pathway: A possible therapeutic target in preeclampsia. Placenta 2024; 147:1-11. [PMID: 38277999 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2024.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication that encompasses various pathogenic mechanisms. Shallow implantation of the placenta due to abnormal trophoblast behavior is considered an important mechanism underlying PE; however, its exact etiology remains unclear. METHODS The expression of OLFML3 in the placenta and important clinical indicators were performed, followed by a correlation analysis. The effect of OLFML3 on the behavior of HTR-8/SVneo cells was examined, and the downstream molecular mechanisms of OLFML3 were investigated in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Additionally, a rat model of PE was generated by adenovirus injection via the tail vein to verify the role of OLFML3. RESULTS OLFML3 is highly expressed in both syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts and deregulated in preeclamptic placentas. OLFML3 overexpression in HTR-8/SVneo cells promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and impeded apoptosis, and triggered phosphorylation on ser473 of AKT. Conversely, OLFML3 knockdown exerted opposite effects. Furthermore, OLFML3 overexpression ameliorates CoCl2-induced apoptosis of HTR-8/SVneo cells. In a rat model, OLFML3 overexpression alleviates PE-associated maternal symptoms, leading to lower blood pressure, less severe proteinuria, improved fetal growth restriction, as well as upregulation of P-AKT and downregulation of Cleaved caspase3 and Bax. DISCUSSION OLFML3 may alleviate PE development by inhibiting extravillous trophoblast cell apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Our findings indicated that OLFML3 may provide a possible therapeutic target for PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ruiping Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiangyujing Bian
- Pharmaceutical Research Lab, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Clinical Institute Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou People's Hospital, Wenzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Cunjing Su
- Pharmaceutical Research Lab, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Pharmaceutical Research Lab, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hongping Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Clinical Institute Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou People's Hospital, Wenzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Jianqiong Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Clinical Institute Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou People's Hospital, Wenzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Yeping Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Clinical Institute Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou People's Hospital, Wenzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, China.
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Lu C, Zheng F, Pan L, Han Q, Wu J, Zhang W. Suppression of circular RNA serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 elevates antioxidant molecules and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells to attenuate preeclampsia via microRNA-508-3p to target and restrain PUM homolog 1. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2024; 50:322-333. [PMID: 38081797 DOI: 10.1111/jog.15843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2024]
Abstract
AIM Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific syndrome characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Recently, multiple circular RNAs (circRNAs) were considered latent clinical diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets. This study was to explore the impact of circRNA serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) on PE via influencing the microRNA (miR)-508-3p/PUM homolog 1 (PUM1) axis. METHODS Placental tissues of 34 pregnant women with PE and 34 normal pregnant women were collected to measure circRNA SGK1 (circSGK1), miR-508-3p, and PUM1. Human placental trophoblasts HTR-8/SVneo were transfected with plasmids, thereafter to observe proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis, analyze antioxidant molecules Troxerutin (TXN), Glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), NAD (P) H-quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and determine angiogenesis. After the construction of the PE rat model, antioxidant molecules TXN, GCLC, and NQO1, vascular-associated factor vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and histopathological conditions were tested. Examination of the binding of circSGK1 and miR-508-3p with PUM1 was performed. RESULTS Our data showed that circSGK1 expression was elevated in the placenta of patients with PE. Silenced circSGK1 or elevated miR-508-3p promoted the growth and antioxidant molecules and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells; CircSGK1 combined with miR-508-3p, and miR-508-3p targeted PUM1. CONCLUSIONS In summary, suppression of circSGK1 augments antioxidant molecules and angiogenesis in trophoblast cells to attenuate PE via miR-508-3p to target PUM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- CaiXia Lu
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - FuMin Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - LiXiao Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - QingFang Han
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - JiXia Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - WenKe Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Zhang X, Sun L. Inhibiting HNF4A suppresses inflammation whilst promoting trophoblast invasion and migration: A promising target for the treatment of preeclampsia. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 386:110752. [PMID: 37806381 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a complex disease of pregnancy, and an important cause of this disease is insufficient trophoblast invasion and migration. However, the underlying mechanism of PE remains largely unknown. Here, transcriptome sequencing analysis found the high expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) in PE placentas. Meanwhile, we found that HNF4A expression was up-regulated in the placentas of PE patients. Thus, we assumed that HNF4A might be involved in PE progression. To validate our hypothesis, l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats were used to mimic the pathological status of PE in vivo. Consistently, HTR8/SVneo cells were treated with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) or LPS to simulate PE progression in vitro. The results observed an increase in elevated urine protein levels, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), which indicated that the PE-like rat model was successfully established. Meanwhile, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β was increased in PE placentas. HTR8/SVneo cells were used to further explore the underlying mechanism of PE in vitro. H/R conditions up-regulated the acetylation level of HNF4A. Further analysis showed that HNF4A overexpression inhibited trophoblast invasion and migration, while HNF4A knockdown promoted the progression. Additionally, inhibiting HNF4A was found to reduce the levels of IL-6 and IL-1β secretion in HTR8/SVneo cells following H/R or LPS exposure. Conclusively, these findings suggest that inhibiting HNF4A suppresses inflammation whilst promoting trophoblast invasion and migration in PE, providing a promising target for the treatment of PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, People's Republic of China.
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Kandzija N, Rahbar M, Jones GD, Motta-Mejia C, Zhang W, Couch Y, Neuhaus AA, Kishore U, Sutherland BA, Redman C, Vatish M. Placental capillary pericytes release excess extracellular vesicles under hypoxic conditions inducing a pro-angiogenic profile in term pregnancy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 651:20-29. [PMID: 36774662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Pericytes are multifunctional cells wrapped around capillary endothelia, essential for vascular health, development, and blood flow regulation, although their role in human placental chorionic villi has not been fully explored. The second half of normal pregnancy is characterized by a progressive decline in placental and fetal oxygen levels which, by term, comprises a substantial degree of hypoxia. We hypothesized this hypoxia would stimulate pericyte regulation of chorionic villous capillary function. This study's objective was to investigate the role of hypoxia on normal term placental pericytes (PLVP) and their signaling to endothelial cells. First, we confirmed fetoplacental hypoxia at term by a new analysis of umbilical arterial blood oxygen tension of 3,010 healthy singleton neonates sampled at caesarean section and before labor. We then measured the release of cytokines, chemokines, and small extracellular vesicles (PLVPsv), from PLVP cultured at 20%, 8% and 1% O2. As O2 levels decreased, secreted cytokines and chemokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)], and small extracellular vesicle markers, (Alix, Syntenin and CD9) increased significantly in the culture supernatants. When primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured with PLVPsv, polygon formation, number, and tube formation length was significantly increased compared to cells not treated with PLVPsv, indicating PLVPsv stimulated angiogenesis. We conclude that adding PLVPsv stimulates angiogenesis and vessel stabilization on neighboring endothelial cells in response to hypoxia in term pregnancy compared to no addition of PLVPsv. Our finding that PLVP can release angiogenic molecules via extracellular vesicles in response to hypoxia may apply to other organ systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neva Kandzija
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Maryam Rahbar
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Gabriel Davis Jones
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Carolina Motta-Mejia
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK; Biosciences Division, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Wei Zhang
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Yvonne Couch
- Acute Stroke Program, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Ain A Neuhaus
- Acute Stroke Program, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Uday Kishore
- Biosciences Division, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Brad A Sutherland
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Christopher Redman
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Manu Vatish
- Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
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Evaluation of the Effect of the Fibroblast Growth Factor Type 2 (FGF-2) Administration on Placental Gene Expression in a Murine Model of Preeclampsia Induced by L-NAME. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710129. [PMID: 36077527 PMCID: PMC9456139 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The abnormal implantation of the trophoblast during the first trimester of pregnancy precedes the appearance of the clinical manifestations of preeclampsia (PE), which is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. In a previous study, which was carried out in a murine model of PE that was induced by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), we observed that the intravenous administration of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) had a hypotensive effect, improved the placental weight gain and attenuated the fetal growth restriction, and the morphological findings that were induced by L-NAME in the evaluated tissues were less severe. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of FGF2 administration on the placental gene expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), placental growth factor, endoglin (ENG), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase (CAT), thioredoxin (TXN), tumor protein P53 (P53), BCL2 apoptosis regulator, Fas cell surface death receptor (FAS), and caspase 3, in a Sprague Dawley rat PE model, which was induced by L-NAME. The gene expression was determined by a real-time polymerase chain reaction using SYBR green. Taking the vehicle or the L-NAME group as a reference, there was an under expression of placental VEGFA, VEGFR2, ENG, P53, FAS, SOD1, CAT, and TXN genes in the group of L-NAME + FGF2 (p < 0.05). The administration of FGF2 in the murine PE-like model that was induced by L-NAME reduced the effects that were generated by proteinuria and the increased BP, as well as the response of the expression of genes that participate in angiogenesis, apoptosis, and OS. These results have generated valuable information regarding the identification of molecular targets for PE and provide new insights for understanding PE pathogenesis.
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Jiang H, Shi H, Chen L, Yang J, Yuan P, Wang W, Pang Y, Wei Y, Zhao Y. Is there a relationship between plasma, cytokine concentrations, and the subsequent risk of postpartum hemorrhage? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; 226:835.e1-835.e17. [PMID: 34919894 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postpartum hemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality. However, there is an insufficient understanding of atonic postpartum hemorrhage. Uterine atony is the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Although an association between myometrium inflammatory cytokines and atonic postpartum hemorrhage has been demonstrated preliminarily, it is not clinically useful in predicting postpartum hemorrhage. Plasma is more readily available, and the assessment of its inflammatory status is more relevant to biological markers of postpartum hemorrhage and might explain the pathophysiology of atonic postpartum hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to examine changes in maternal plasma cytokines in women with atonic postpartum hemorrhage. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective longitudinal case-control study of pregnant women with singleton gestations at term undergoing vaginal delivery. Cases were women with atonic postpartum hemorrhage, and 1:1 propensity-score matching was used to match the control group. Maternal plasma was collected in the first trimester, early third trimester, and late third trimester, and multiplex Luminex assay was used to determine the cytokine concentrations. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine the association between maternal cytokines at different stages of pregnancy and atonic postpartum hemorrhage. RESULTS A total of 36 pregnant women met the clinical diagnostic criteria for atonic postpartum hemorrhage, and 36 patients without postpartum hemorrhage were matched as the control group. Concentrations were lower for most cytokines in the atonic postpartum hemorrhage group in the first and early third trimester. However, in the late third trimester, higher plasma concentrations of basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-2 receptor alpha, interleukin-16, interleukin-18, macrophage colony stimulating factor, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha, beta-nerve growth factor, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand, and stem cell factor were significantly associated with increased risk of atonic postpartum hemorrhage. Multiple testing correction showed that basic fibroblast growth factor (P<.001; fold change [FC]=1.16), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (P<.001; FC=1.15), and stem cell factor (P=.001; FC=1.25) had the most significant difference (P<.001). The prediction model of atonic postpartum hemorrhage constructed by these significantly changed cytokines had a high predictive efficiency (area under the curve, 0.84; sensitivity, 0.78; specificity, 0.83; +likelihood ratio, 4.66; -likelihood ratio, 0.27). CONCLUSION Higher concentrations of maternal plasma cytokines in the late third trimester are associated with high risk of subsequent atonic postpartum hemorrhage. These indicators may be potential biomarkers for predicting atonic postpartum hemorrhage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
| | - Huifeng Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
| | - Lian Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
| | - Pengbo Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanli Pang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China
| | - Yangyu Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; National Center for Healthcare Quality Management in Obstetrics, Beijing, China.
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AT2R activation increases in vitro angiogenesis in pregnant human uterine artery endothelial cells. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267826. [PMID: 35486619 PMCID: PMC9053770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is vital during pregnancy for remodeling and enhancing vasodilation of maternal uterine arteries, and increasing uterine blood flow. Abnormal angiogenesis is associated with decreased uteroplacental blood flow and development of pregnancy disorders such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, stillbirth, and miscarriage. The mechanisms that contribute to normal angiogenesis remain obscure. Our previous studies demonstrated that expression of the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) is increased while the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) is unchanged in the endothelium of uterine arteries, and that AT2R-mediated pregnancy adaptation facilitates enhanced vasodilation and uterine arterial blood flow. However, the role of AT2R in regulating angiogenesis during pregnancy has never been studied. This study examines whether or not AT2R activation induces angiogenesis and, if so, what mechanisms are involved. To this end, we used primary human uterine artery endothelial cells (hUAECs) isolated from pregnant and nonpregnant women undergoing hysterectomy. The present study shows that Compound 21, a selective AT2R agonist, induced proliferation of pregnant-hUAECs, but not nonpregnant-hUAECs, in a concentration-dependent manner, and that this C21-induced mitogenic effect was blocked by PD123319, a selective AT2R antagonist. The mitogenic effects induced by C21 were inhibited by blocking JNK—but not ERK, PI3K, and p38—signaling pathways. In addition, C21 concentration dependently increased cell migration and capillary-like tube formation in pregnant-hUAECs. The membrane-based antibody array showed that C21 increased expression of multiple angiogenic proteins, including EGF, bFGF, leptin, PLGF, IGF-1, and angiopoietins. Our qPCR analysis demonstrates that C21-induced increase in expression of these angiogenic proteins correlates with a proportional increase in mRNA expression, indicating that AT2R activates angiogenic proteins at the transcriptional level. In summary, the present study shows that AT2R activation induces angiogenesis of hUAECs in a pregnancy-specific manner through JNK-mediated pathways with associated transcriptional upregulation of multiple proangiogenic proteins.
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